Firebrand of the North: Nathaniel Lyon and the Civil War

Firebrand of the North: Nathaniel Lyon and the Civil War

August 10th, 1861
Wilson's Creek, Missouri

Army of the West
Lyon's command

Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon was in a fix. His plan to hit the southern forces from the north and south was starting to fail. The southerners were rallying and throwing everything they had at both of the federal forces. This is the last time i'm going to let Sigel talk me into splitting my forces. If i had just kept to the origional plan, maybe we would have been able to push them back enough in order for the army to withdraw back to Rolla. Lyon's original plan was to attack the rebs at dawn with his entire force of some 5,500 men and drive them from their encampment at Wilson's Creek. Then Col. Franz Sigel had put forth a plan to attack from two directions, one from the north (Lyon) and the other from the south(Sigel). This he argued would throw the rebs into a panic and cause them to flee. Well, a lot of good that did. Lyon had learned that Sigel had stalled and was being assaulted by Confederates under McCulloch. Lyon pray that a miracle would take place...

Army of the West
Sigel's command

Artillery fire and musket fire buzzed all about as Col. Franz Sigel cursed. Dammit! My command is falling apart. I must consolidate my line and turn around my cannons so that they point at the rebels coming up the hill! Sigel shouted the orders and nodded when the aides went about their tasks. Suddenly, there was a high pitched yell that attracted Sigel's attention. As Sigel looked, severl Rebel Regiments started to form for an attack. Oh Great! Now what do i do! I knew that this plan was too good to be true. I should have kept my mouth shut and went along with the original plan. I should have.... Wait a minute! Is that an officer leading them on horseback? After severl minutes, Sigel smiled. Yes it is! And best yet, it seems to be a high ranking one at that! Sigel rode to a cannon and barked a command to its crew, "Swing that cannon around and throw some lead in that officer's direction!" Sigel pointed to the Rebel commander on horseback. The men did as told and started firing. Their first fews shots landed near the officer, but did no harm. "Dammit! Hit that bastard and I'll give you some whiskey rations when this is over!" Sigel yelled. That did it. The cannon fire landed right on top of the officer and he went down. What Sigel didn't realize it that his order had changed the course of the battle in favor of the Union.

Southern Army
McCulloch's troops

General Benjamin McCulloch was in high spirits. The yankees had attacked them and had driven some of the rebel forces away from the fighting, but know, it was the yankees who were feeling it now. Just you wait. My boys will give you something that will kick the shit outta you. Yessir. Soon as we... McCulloch didn't have time to finish that thought as Union artillery poured down around him. Many men begged McCulloch to get down, but he just smiled at him. What are they worried about? There isn't a yankee living that can kill me. Soon, my yankee friends, soon I'll... It was a really cruel joke that just as McCulloch held the Yankees in contempt, that a Yankee shell screamed over head and burst directly above him, killing him instantly.

:cool: Hey guys, This is something that has been going inside of my noggin for sometime now and i've been wondered how to write it, so here it is. What Do You Think? Also guys, I'm going to keep writing on this one and my other two Civil War Atls, but I'm going to erase my Americusian-Bavarian War of 1860-1863. Its not because of you guys. It just that i'm not happy with the way i'm writing it, so i'm going to start over sometime latter.Thanks!:D
 

Art

Monthly Donor
Hmmm...

I love Nevin's Dream West. Maybe Fremont get to put Sterling Price's head on a pike?
 
August 10th 1861
Wilson's Creek Missouri

Overview of Battle
Nathaniel Lyon's Army of the West had been engaged with Confederate forces, who now under the sole command of Sterling Price, began to slug it out with Lyon's men. With McCulloch dead, the forces confronting Sigel's force withdrew, unsure as to what to do. This allowed Sigel to march around the rebels left flank and regroup with Lyon. Lyon himself almost was killed when he tried to personally led his forces forward. Unfortunatly for his aide, Private Lyman, a musket ball that was meant for the general ended up killing him. As the battle raged, Lyon realized that he could not win the battle simple because his men were too tired and the fact that Price, after taking command, was putting every man he could find into the fight. Finally, after about five to six hours fighting, Lyon withdrew back to springfield, Missouri to rest his weary men. Likewise, Price decided to let Lyon go and reorganize the army. Thus, Wilson's Creek, the second battle of the civil war, was over.

Aftermath

The end of the battle did not mean the end of the campaign. When Lyon reached Rolla after marching his army from springfield, he was hailed as a hero. Although he lost the battle, many believed that if he had more troops and better subortinates, he would have won. President Lincoln, after reading the reports, decided to promote Lyon to Major General and give him overall command in Missouri. But in order to appease those who think that Lyon s too radical, President Lincoln puts General Fremont in command of Missouri, Kansas, and Illionois. This did not sit well with Lyon who believed that he was entitled to the command. But for the good of the union, he worked with Fremont. On the southern side, in response to the death of McCulloch, Jefferson Davis decided to give command of the region to Price temporarly. Price decided to reorganize his force and after severel weeks of resupply and rest, his Army of Missouri, as he styled it, began its new offensive in early September. Its destination was the town of Lexington, Missouri.
 
Missouri Campaign
September - November 1861

Forces involved:

Army of Missouri
Major General Sterling Price

9600 men

3 infantry divisions

Little's Division
Rain' Division
Green's Division

2 cavalry divisions

McIntosh's Division
Frost's Division

Army of the West
Major General Nathaniel Lyon

15,000men

3 infantry Divisions

1st division
Brig Gen Franz Sigel

2nd division
Brig Gen Sturgis

3rd division
Brig Gen Ulysses S. Grant

1st Cav division
Col. Phil Sheridan

Lexington garrison
Col. Mulligan
2500 men

Planning

The Missouri Campaign of 1861 was the brainchild of one man: Major General Stirling Price. Price had always dreamed of Missouri free of federal rule. In the aftermath of Wilson's Creek, Price rested the weary army that had won the battle. Soon after, he was promoted to Major General in the Confederate army with the authority to do what he could. Price went to work by forming the army into 5 divisions: three infantry and two cavalry. The three infantry divisions, totaling 6200 men were under the command of general henry little, james rains, and martin green. the two cavalry commands were under the command of Gens james mcIntosh and Daniel Frost. Their two commands numered 3000men, giving Price a total of 9200men. Price decided to move north and head toward Jefferson City. this would allow the Confederates to intercept any federal force coming from St. Louis. On September 22nd, Price's Army of Missouri, as he styled it, began its march.

Federal Reaction

The move by Price caught the federals by surprise. General Fremont panicked and asked for more troops to defend St. Louis. among those sent was a brigade commanded by a unknown general: Ulysses S. Grant. Meanwhile, Nathaneil Lyon decided to take matters into his own hands and raised an army. Once again it was called the Army of the West and Lyon assembled 15000men to fill it. He formed three infantry divisions, and one cavalry division. The three infantry divisions were under the command of Generals Franz Sigel, Sturgis, and Grant. The choice of Grant to command the third division was a surprise to everyone, but Lyon saw something in Grant that he and Grant both shared: action. If the choice of grant was weird, the choice of the cavalry commander was downright questionable: recently promoted Phil Sheridan. Sheridan also caught Lyon's eye and Lyon decided to give Sheridan a chance. With his army gathered, Lyon drilled them without mercy. From late August to early October, the Army of the West improved their soldiering skills. And not a moment too soon.

Note: I known that i gave Price's move into missouri as 22nd of Sept. but Lyon in my veiw, would have started to gather a bigger army right after wilson's creek.
 
Missouri Campaign
September - November 1861


Opening moves

The Confederate Army of Missouri, as it was styled, began its march of liberation on the last week of September. Price's goal was to take the capital of Missouri, Jefferson City in order to secure Missouri for the Confederacy. His march almost didn't start. Several of Ben McCulloch's regiments refused to go north of Arkansas. Since McCulloch's death, his men had been spilt up and put into different commands. Some went to James Rain's division while others went to Martin Green's division. Now they threatened to unravel the invasion before it began. Price, along with Rain and Green threatened to shoot any one who refused to march north. After some pleading by General James McIntosh, the men grumbled and went back to their units.

Price's army marched out of its camps at Wilson's Creek and made for Springfield. From there, Price planned to march north, to Warsaw. From Warsaw he could threaten Jefferson City. The lead division was that of McIntosh's cavalry division. His job was to screen and protect the army from any prying yankee eyes. McIntosh's division rode into Springfield on the afternoon of the 23rd. Right behind him came Henry Little's infantry division, followed by Rain's and then Green's divisions. Covering the rear was Frost's cavalry division. After some rest, McIntosh's men headed for Lebanon, MO.

Meanwhile, back in St. Louis, General Lyon was fumming. His superior,Major General John Fremont, had ordered him to remain where he was. Lyon's Army of the West was still training, sharping its skills. Price's invasion had caught Fremont with his pants down. He started to call on more and more men to defend St. Louis. Lyon's army of 15,000men was the only federal force, beside the garrison at Lexington, MO to help defend the state. Fremont did not want to risk the army. But Lyon, along with his officers, begged Fremont to let them advance against the enemy. Finally, Fremont allowed Lyon to advance to Rolla, Mo and no farther. Once Lyon was out of Fremont's reach, he would take matters into his own hands and go all out to destroy Price's army.
 
I know that this is necro-ing, but i was just curious...

From what i know of Lyon he was a capable strategist, and a pretty good leader that had the loyalty of his men. And given his minor career successes he certainly was a good soldier...so, is he Grant-like material. Is he on equal footing? Would, if he had survived, become the Union's savior????

Or anything of the like?
 
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